Equipment cover for preventing contamination from bloodborne pathogens and contrast materials

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for protecting equipment from contamination are provided. The apparatus may include a sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, an elastic mechanism disposed around at least a portion of the first open end, and a closure mechanism near the second open end. The closure mechanism may be operable to close the second open end around at least a portion of the equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to equipment protection, andmore specifically relates to an equipment cover for covering medicalequipment to prevent contamination of the medical equipment bybloodborne pathogens and contrast materials.

In a medical environment, such as a hospital, keeping equipment sterileand preventing equipment from being contaminated are of utmostimportance. However, blood splatter, contrast materials, as well asother fluids that are regularly found in medical environments may carrybloodborne pathogens and other impurities that may contaminate equipmentwithin the medical environment.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus to protect equipmentfrom contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus adapted to protectan equipment from contamination comprises a sleeve having a first openend and a second open end; an elastic mechanism disposed around at leasta portion of the first open end; and a closure mechanism near the secondopen end, the closure mechanism operable to close the second open endaround at least a portion of the equipment

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting anequipment from contamination comprises fitting a sleeve over theequipment through a first open end of the sleeve; securing the firstopen end of the sleeve to the equipment using an elastic mechanismdisposed around at least a portion of the first open end; and closing asecond open end of the sleeve around at least a portion of the equipmentusing a closure mechanism near the second open end.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an equipment cover in use to cover apiece of equipment in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the equipment cover of FIG.1 in use to cover the piece of equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for installing an equipment coverover a piece of equipment in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for removing an equipment coverfrom a piece of equipment in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide anequipment cover that may prevent the covered equipment fromcontamination due to blood born pathogens and contrast materials. Theequipment cover may be easily secured to the equipment and may be easilyremoved without splattering or dripping any collected contaminants fromthe cover onto the covered equipment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an equipment cover 10 may be used to cover apiece of equipment 20 in order to protect the equipment 20 againstcontamination from bloodborne pathogens and contrast materials, therebyhelping to keep the equipment 20 sterile.

The equipment cover 10 may be a sleeve that may be cylindrical in shapewith first and second open ends 10A and 10B, respectively. In oneembodiment, the equipment cover 10 may be made of polyethylene and maybe about 54-inches long and have a circumference of about 44-inches. Theequipment cover 10 may have an elastic mechanism 12, such as an elasticband, that is disposed around at least a portion of the first open end10A. The equipment cover 10 may also have a closure mechanism 16, suchas an adhesive, sticky-face tape, hook and loop system, tie, rubberband, or any other appropriate mechanism, near its second open end 10B.

A removal mechanism, such as a razor 18, may be included with orattached to the equipment cover 10 to slice open the equipment cover 10for easy removal after use. For example, the razor 18 may be attached tothe elastic mechanism 12. Alternatively, other removal mechanisms, suchas a zipper, may be used to easily secure and remove the equipment cover10.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the equipmentcover 10 may be used in a medical setting to cover a piece of equipment20 that may include a computed tomography (CT) injector 26, a base 22, astand 24, and wheels 28. When the CT injector 26 is in use, theequipment cover 10 may cover the base 22 and the stand 24 while leavingthe CT injector 26 uncovered, so that the CT injector 26 may be usedwhile preventing contrast and blood splatter from reaching the base 22and the stand 24.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for installing the equipment cover10 over the piece of equipment 20. At 302, the equipment cover 10 may beremoved from any packaging and may be unfolded. At 304, a userinstalling the equipment cover 10 may grasp the first open end 10A ofthe equipment cover 10 and pull the equipment cover 10 over the CTInjector 26 through the first open end 10A. At 306, the user maycontinue pulling the equipment cover 10 so that the first open end 10Areaches the base 22 of the equipment 10 and may stretch the elasticmechanism 12 to secure the elastic mechanism 12 under the base 22 andabove any wheels 28 under the base 22.

At 308, any excess material in the upper portion of the equipment cover10 may be pulled upwards and gathered around the stand 24. At 310, theclosure mechanism 16, such as double-faced securing tape, may be used tofasten or adhere the equipment cover 10 tightly around the stand 24 sothat the second open end 10B is closed around the stand 24. At 312, theinstallation of the equipment cover 10 may be complete. The equipmentcover 10 may be changed daily to ensure a sanitary environment.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for removing the equipment cover 10from the piece of equipment 20. The method is described below withfurther reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. At 402, the closure mechanism 16 maybe pulled apart to allow the equipment cover 10 to slightly unfold. At404, the razor 18 attached to the equipment cover 10 may be used toslice the equipment cover 10 from the first open end 10A upwards towardsthe second open end 10B. Alternatively, if the equipment cover 10includes a zipper that runs from the first open end 10A to the secondopen end 10B, the zipper may be unzipped. At 406, the equipment cover 10may be held from the inside and may be rolled outwards away from theequipment 20 into a ball, thereby preventing any contaminants fromreaching the user or the equipment 20. At 408, the used equipment cover20 may be disposed of following appropriate procedures

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. An apparatus adapted to protect equipment from contamination,comprising: a sleeve having a first open end and a second open end; anelastic mechanism disposed around at least a portion of the first openend; and a closure mechanism near the second open end, the closuremechanism operable to close the second open end around at least aportion of the equipment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a razor for cutting open the sleeve.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the closure mechanism comprises an adhesive.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook andloop system.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic mechanismcomprises an elastic band.
 6. A method for protecting equipment fromcontamination, comprising: fitting a sleeve over the equipment through afirst open end of the sleeve; securing the first open end of the sleeveto the equipment using an elastic mechanism disposed around at least aportion of the first open end; and closing a second open end of thesleeve around at least a portion of the equipment using a closuremechanism near the second open end.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: slicing the sleeve with a razor blade to remove the sleevefrom the equipment.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:unzipping the sleeve to remove the sleeve from the equipment.
 9. Themethod of claim 6, wherein securing the first open end of the sleeve tothe equipment further comprises securing the first open end of thesleeve under a base of the equipment.
 10. The method of claim 6, whereinclosing the second open end of the sleeve further comprises adhering aportion of the sleeve near the second open end to the equipment.